The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-19

OBITUARY.
William Smith, Ex- Governor of Virginia, and
Widely Known Extra Billy.'

william Smith, Ex- Governor of Virginia, and
WideIy Known Extra Billy"
RICHMOND, Va, May 1S-Governor Lee to-
day received a telegram from Warrentown, Va
announcing the death at his home near that
place, of Ex-Governor William Smith, who for
upwards of sixty years has been conspicuously
identified with the affairs of this State. as law
yer, legislator, Congressman and Governor, serv-
ing several terms in the United States Congress
and two terms chief executive of the State
Had he lived until September next he would
have been ninety years of age. The remains
will be brought to Richmond for interment.
William Smith was born in 1897, in King
George county, Virginia, at the upper end of
what Virginians call the Northern Neck
While Governor he twice the caucus nomi-
nee of the Democrats for United States Senator,
and was beaten first by r. NJ. T. Hunter, and
afterward by James NJ. Mason, by coalition of
the solid Whig minority and the Calhoun Dem
ocrats. He was elected Governorsin 1863, be-
cause of his reputation as fighting soldier won
colorel OF the Forty ninth Virginia Infantry
and as brigade commander. He was in Congress
when President Lincoln was inaugurated, and
challenged criticism by calling for eggnog, which
he drank the floor of the House of Repre-
sentatives. He a member of the Legislature
of Virginia in 1886 and in 1840 He elected
a member of the Twenty-seventh Congress, and
repeatedly reelected.
He went to California in pursuit of political
preferrnent, and, failing, he returned To his
native State to repeat old-rime successes in
politics. Governor Smith a student
of craftsmanship. but marvelously skiliful
politician in the direction of his personal ends.
He canvassed Pennsylvania for Buchanan in
1856. at Mr. Buchanans urgent request. and
m ade many converts for the Democrats by his
ingenious pleas. As a politician he dis
tinguished more by dexterity than BY candor.
AS a soldier he the emblem of valor, rather
than of tactical skill Fall in. Forty-ninth
Virginia" will come back to many VirginIan
soldier Is be recalls the se.ying cry HE regi-
lAess. ofsbrave old Governor Smith.
At one time he mail contractor with the
United States government. and had charge of
the line OF stages for mail TRANSPORTATION from
Washington far south Aiiedgeville, Ga.
His NICKNAME of Extra Billy" grew out of his
demands for extra compensation.
Maj Ben: Perley Poore who says he saw the
venerable figure of Extra Billy" in the Capitol
but short time ago, tells of an incident in the
old mans that is interesting. Major
Poore left the Office of the newspaper in which
he was employed one fine day during the admin
istration of Pierce to go to the Capitol. As soon
as he reached the sidewalk ne saw at short dis
tance men in angry dispute. They
clinched and fell to the sidewalk, and the Major
presently found that the under his
chief the editor of the paper, while Extra
Billy" was on top. By some misfortune the edit
or had gone down with Extra Biliy's thumb in
his mouth, and the Virginian was bowling and
protesting in very unparliamentary language
that that's way to fight gentleman" The
editor hung on, however until the bystanders
separated the two, and the combat was forgotten
after it had been the talk of the town for a few
days.